Four quicks ploy worked - Boult

It took New Zealand 76 overs to separate the opening pair of Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell in the first innings of the first Test in Antigua. Here, they needed just nine. In Antigua, Gayle powered his way to 150, which included 17 boundaries and four sixes at a strike-rate of 72.81. Here, he scored a painstaking 8 off 55 deliveries, which included no boundaries.

The big difference, from New Zealand's perspective, was the inclusion of the 23-year-old Trent Boult in place of 69-Test veteran Chris Martin. Boult bowled with discipline to end with figures of 3 for 58. New Zealand also decided to go with a four-man pace attack: Tim Southee was brought into the side in place of the injured Daniel Vettori. New Zealand captain Ross Taylor had hinted at personnel changes ahead of the second Test, and, on the evidence so far, the changes to the bowling attack seemed to have reaped the desired results.

"Four quicks seems to have worked well; the boys were fresh coming into each spell and they definitely did the role," Boult said. "It's a young bowling group and we did well, so looking to the future, it is a good sign."

Boult, who had figures of 3 for 58, said the bowlers focussed on creating pressure from both ends. "The bouncers were used well and good heavy lengths [were used]. I think that is what created the decisions [by the West Indies batsmen] and I would put it down to most of the boys getting stuck in and really competing."

New Zealand were fully aware of what Gayle and Powell were capable of, and did not take them lightly at any stage. "There's no doubt that they [the West Indies openers] can take the game away from you. They did that in the last Test but it was very nice to get those two because they could have been a handful," Boult said. "The boys worked together and we came from both ends, which was pretty important, and we were lucky to get them."

When it came to Gayle, specifically, New Zealand had worked out a plan and stuck to it. "Just the loss of wickets affected him (Gayle) a little bit. He didn't take much of the strike," Boult said. "The plan was to use the shorter ball and get him caught in the crease and then look to hit the wicket around the fourth stump area, and the plan worked today."

Boult received good support from Southee, whose 19 overs yielded 2 for 70, which also included a couples of near misses. "End of last season in New Zealand, he [Southee] was unfortunate to get dropped," Boult said. "He has worked hard and was looking good today. He could have taken a five-wicket bag but it was shared around today and he definitely bowled well."

Marlon Samuels was the only batsman to get to three figures in two completed innings and Boult conceded there was some assistance for the bowlers from the conditions early on. "The new ball was definitely something we had to use and the first hour was crucial. The ball is not going to stay new for very long and I thought we used it very well and got as much out of it as we could," Boult said. "The boys were in a good head space this morning. We are here to fight."

@cxiv Ajmal is an offspinner.even Murali went round the wicket to get Right handers lbw. How was that plumb? HOW CAN ANYONE KNOW BEFOREHAND ABOUT THAT DECISION WILL BE REVIEWED BY SRT IN THE SEMIFINAL? STOP CREATING CONSPIRACY THEORIES WHICH ARE NOT THERE.

POSTED BY
Pontiac
on | August 4, 2012, 14:37 GMT

Sammy's been averaging about 35 with the bat in Tests in 2012 (something like 11 or 12 innings) so far and was the second highest scorer yesterday. I still wonder what he would need to do to be considered worth his place.

POSTED BY
on | August 4, 2012, 14:27 GMT

How long can u force feed a player on a team/a region ? (the west indies captain). This guy could end up a great coach/manager but his talent as a player is limited.Solution, as silly as it sounds they are not going to drop him,so
give him a batsman slot,he does have enough ability to pack the off side w/fielders and bowl outside the off stumps,is that what we need from a 3rd fast bowler?? look no further than 2nd test new zealand w/4 quick bowlers supporting each other.Narine will soon b overexposed the way they use him
we are keeping Russel down a potential quickee, bravo,pollard,can do what he does n more. make a batsman with a waranted place in the team captain test team sammy can play when needed in some forms but not every game.

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 4, 2012, 10:04 GMT

Having extra pacers will keep the intensity up. Freshness means extra energy and more kph per ball. When Roach and Best are replaced by Sammy, the whole atmosphere changes from one of pressure and aggressive intent, to one of sit back and wait and see if the batsman makes a mistake. That is one of the main faults with the Windies team right now, yet the skipper isn't good enough to bat at six, and neither is Ramdin, so with seven and eight filled, that just leaves three spots for frontline bowlers. Something has to change.

POSTED BY
DilshanRocks
on | August 4, 2012, 7:37 GMT

@cxiv im an indian and i agree with you, but why does that matter here?

POSTED BY
US_Indian
on | August 4, 2012, 6:23 GMT

keep it up Windies: good to see you guys doing well after almost 2 decades. You have the players to do that both with the bat and ball, all you need is proper management (Just shed the EGO) and attitude and the will to restore your old glory. Wish you good luck. From an Indian Fan.
I can see fredricks, greenidge and Haynes mixed together in Chris Gayle.
A certain Alvin Kallicharan or more in Shiv.
Powell seems to a mix of Logie and Richardson.
Marlon Samuels atleast a shadow of great Sir Viv. which is still good enough.
Deonarine like Hooper.
Narine like Lance Gibbs.
Ramdin on par with Murray and Dujon.
Roach, rampaul, Tino, Fidel, and afew others can be the pale shadow of those indomitable guys like Robers, Marshall, Holding, Croft, Julien, Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, but still good enough to make this team a world beating one.
Add Pollard, Bravo Bro's, Smith, Bharath, Sarwan, Assad, thats more than enough guys, just do your best and you can be the best and if not atleast among the best.

POSTED BY
cxiv
on | August 4, 2012, 6:11 GMT

I remember ball tracker doing the same in world cup semi final. Saeed ajmal had tendulkar out plumb but the ball tracker magically changed the route and he was given not out. I hope that will get investigated one day... And I hope cricinfo will publish these comments this time...

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 3, 2012, 23:54 GMT

Samuels was seeing it so well that you could have probably painted the sightscreen red and he'd have been fine. A great knock by a player who has certainly come of age.

POSTED BY
on | August 4, 2012, 14:45 GMT

@cxiv Ajmal is an offspinner.even Murali went round the wicket to get Right handers lbw. How was that plumb? HOW CAN ANYONE KNOW BEFOREHAND ABOUT THAT DECISION WILL BE REVIEWED BY SRT IN THE SEMIFINAL? STOP CREATING CONSPIRACY THEORIES WHICH ARE NOT THERE.

POSTED BY
Pontiac
on | August 4, 2012, 14:37 GMT

Sammy's been averaging about 35 with the bat in Tests in 2012 (something like 11 or 12 innings) so far and was the second highest scorer yesterday. I still wonder what he would need to do to be considered worth his place.

POSTED BY
on | August 4, 2012, 14:27 GMT

How long can u force feed a player on a team/a region ? (the west indies captain). This guy could end up a great coach/manager but his talent as a player is limited.Solution, as silly as it sounds they are not going to drop him,so
give him a batsman slot,he does have enough ability to pack the off side w/fielders and bowl outside the off stumps,is that what we need from a 3rd fast bowler?? look no further than 2nd test new zealand w/4 quick bowlers supporting each other.Narine will soon b overexposed the way they use him
we are keeping Russel down a potential quickee, bravo,pollard,can do what he does n more. make a batsman with a waranted place in the team captain test team sammy can play when needed in some forms but not every game.

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 4, 2012, 10:04 GMT

Having extra pacers will keep the intensity up. Freshness means extra energy and more kph per ball. When Roach and Best are replaced by Sammy, the whole atmosphere changes from one of pressure and aggressive intent, to one of sit back and wait and see if the batsman makes a mistake. That is one of the main faults with the Windies team right now, yet the skipper isn't good enough to bat at six, and neither is Ramdin, so with seven and eight filled, that just leaves three spots for frontline bowlers. Something has to change.

POSTED BY
DilshanRocks
on | August 4, 2012, 7:37 GMT

@cxiv im an indian and i agree with you, but why does that matter here?

POSTED BY
US_Indian
on | August 4, 2012, 6:23 GMT

keep it up Windies: good to see you guys doing well after almost 2 decades. You have the players to do that both with the bat and ball, all you need is proper management (Just shed the EGO) and attitude and the will to restore your old glory. Wish you good luck. From an Indian Fan.
I can see fredricks, greenidge and Haynes mixed together in Chris Gayle.
A certain Alvin Kallicharan or more in Shiv.
Powell seems to a mix of Logie and Richardson.
Marlon Samuels atleast a shadow of great Sir Viv. which is still good enough.
Deonarine like Hooper.
Narine like Lance Gibbs.
Ramdin on par with Murray and Dujon.
Roach, rampaul, Tino, Fidel, and afew others can be the pale shadow of those indomitable guys like Robers, Marshall, Holding, Croft, Julien, Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, but still good enough to make this team a world beating one.
Add Pollard, Bravo Bro's, Smith, Bharath, Sarwan, Assad, thats more than enough guys, just do your best and you can be the best and if not atleast among the best.

POSTED BY
cxiv
on | August 4, 2012, 6:11 GMT

I remember ball tracker doing the same in world cup semi final. Saeed ajmal had tendulkar out plumb but the ball tracker magically changed the route and he was given not out. I hope that will get investigated one day... And I hope cricinfo will publish these comments this time...

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 3, 2012, 23:54 GMT

Samuels was seeing it so well that you could have probably painted the sightscreen red and he'd have been fine. A great knock by a player who has certainly come of age.

No featured comments at the moment.

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 3, 2012, 23:54 GMT

Samuels was seeing it so well that you could have probably painted the sightscreen red and he'd have been fine. A great knock by a player who has certainly come of age.

POSTED BY
cxiv
on | August 4, 2012, 6:11 GMT

I remember ball tracker doing the same in world cup semi final. Saeed ajmal had tendulkar out plumb but the ball tracker magically changed the route and he was given not out. I hope that will get investigated one day... And I hope cricinfo will publish these comments this time...

POSTED BY
US_Indian
on | August 4, 2012, 6:23 GMT

keep it up Windies: good to see you guys doing well after almost 2 decades. You have the players to do that both with the bat and ball, all you need is proper management (Just shed the EGO) and attitude and the will to restore your old glory. Wish you good luck. From an Indian Fan.
I can see fredricks, greenidge and Haynes mixed together in Chris Gayle.
A certain Alvin Kallicharan or more in Shiv.
Powell seems to a mix of Logie and Richardson.
Marlon Samuels atleast a shadow of great Sir Viv. which is still good enough.
Deonarine like Hooper.
Narine like Lance Gibbs.
Ramdin on par with Murray and Dujon.
Roach, rampaul, Tino, Fidel, and afew others can be the pale shadow of those indomitable guys like Robers, Marshall, Holding, Croft, Julien, Garner, Ambrose, Walsh, but still good enough to make this team a world beating one.
Add Pollard, Bravo Bro's, Smith, Bharath, Sarwan, Assad, thats more than enough guys, just do your best and you can be the best and if not atleast among the best.

POSTED BY
DilshanRocks
on | August 4, 2012, 7:37 GMT

@cxiv im an indian and i agree with you, but why does that matter here?

POSTED BY
SNIFFLEATHER
on | August 4, 2012, 10:04 GMT

Having extra pacers will keep the intensity up. Freshness means extra energy and more kph per ball. When Roach and Best are replaced by Sammy, the whole atmosphere changes from one of pressure and aggressive intent, to one of sit back and wait and see if the batsman makes a mistake. That is one of the main faults with the Windies team right now, yet the skipper isn't good enough to bat at six, and neither is Ramdin, so with seven and eight filled, that just leaves three spots for frontline bowlers. Something has to change.

POSTED BY
on | August 4, 2012, 14:27 GMT

How long can u force feed a player on a team/a region ? (the west indies captain). This guy could end up a great coach/manager but his talent as a player is limited.Solution, as silly as it sounds they are not going to drop him,so
give him a batsman slot,he does have enough ability to pack the off side w/fielders and bowl outside the off stumps,is that what we need from a 3rd fast bowler?? look no further than 2nd test new zealand w/4 quick bowlers supporting each other.Narine will soon b overexposed the way they use him
we are keeping Russel down a potential quickee, bravo,pollard,can do what he does n more. make a batsman with a waranted place in the team captain test team sammy can play when needed in some forms but not every game.

POSTED BY
Pontiac
on | August 4, 2012, 14:37 GMT

Sammy's been averaging about 35 with the bat in Tests in 2012 (something like 11 or 12 innings) so far and was the second highest scorer yesterday. I still wonder what he would need to do to be considered worth his place.

POSTED BY
on | August 4, 2012, 14:45 GMT

@cxiv Ajmal is an offspinner.even Murali went round the wicket to get Right handers lbw. How was that plumb? HOW CAN ANYONE KNOW BEFOREHAND ABOUT THAT DECISION WILL BE REVIEWED BY SRT IN THE SEMIFINAL? STOP CREATING CONSPIRACY THEORIES WHICH ARE NOT THERE.